Assassins' Guild of Greyhawk

Assassinations within Greyhawk are rare, not because of a lack of demand, but due to the fear of retribution. The Master of the Guild of Assassins, Turin Deathstalker , is never openly acknowledged as such, yet his name is whispered with fear throughout the city. Many believe he is connected to the deadly killers of Greyhawk, and as a Director of the city, any contract made within its walls may well reach the ears of those in power. This alone discourages many from seeking the guild’s services.

Instead, the Assassins’ Guild focuses on eliminating outsiders, those whose deaths are unlikely to stir the wrath of the city’s elite. Due to this selective approach, the guild is smaller than one might expect, with only 25 members, all of whom are exceptionally skilled. At any time, 5 to 16 (1d12+4) members may be absent from the city, engaged in contracts across the Flanaess. Greyhawk has earned a reputation as a place where one can hire an assassin of supreme skill, provided the price is right. Relations with the Thieves’ Guild remain cordial, as their leaders, much like their respective organizations, are pragmatic allies rather than rivals.

The guild’s headquarters is a well-hidden subterranean complex deep beneath the Thieves’ Quarter , its chambers carved by both mundane and magical means. Access is gained through hidden sewer doors (all locked and heavily trapped), with additional secret pathways in the Slum Quarter , River Quarter , and even a concealed passage beneath Gundri Garraldson’s Locksmithy . Turin Deathstalker himself maintains private chambers on the top floor of the locksmith’s shop.

Contacting the Assassins’ Guild

Seeking an assassin is perilous. Discreet inquiries must be made in the darkest taverns of the River, Thieves’, or Slum Quarters, and even then, only those who know the right questions to ask may be granted an audience. If a meeting is arranged, the assassin will dictate the location—typically a crowded, noisy tavern, where 1-2 fellow assassins and 1-4 hidden thieves observe the proceedings.

Wealthy patrons take a more indirect approach, using intermediaries and dead letter drops—methods far beyond the reach of common adventurers. If the target is of political or noble significance, Turin himself will be consulted before any contract is accepted. Notably, the guild does not permit orcs in its ranks—a decision dictated by Turin’s deep-seated hatred of humanoids.

The guild’s membership reflects its ruthless nature:

• 4 Lawful Neutral
• 3 Neutral
• 1 Chaotic Neutral
• 10 Lawful Evil
• 3 Neutral Evil
• 4 Chaotic Evil

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Turin Deathstalker

Master of the Assassins’ Guild

A native of the Shield Lands, Turin Deathstalker stands 6'1" tall, weighs 194 lbs., and possesses olive skin, gray eyes, and auburn hair. His past is soaked in blood. Orcs slaughtered his family and enslaved him as a child. He was raised in servitude to a half-orc warrior, from whom he learned the brutal craft of assassination. Over the years, he infiltrated the Horned Society, surviving in Molag itself before finally seizing an opportunity to escape.

These experiences forged an unyielding hatred within him. Turin despises orcs, half-orcs, hobgoblins, and their kin. He frequently embarks on solo extermination missions, striking at these creatures along the Wild Coast, the Nyr Dyv, the conquered Shield Lands, and even the Pomarj.

Turin is a man of many faces, owning three businesses in Greyhawk:

• Garraldson’s Locksmithy
• Vesper’s Pawn Shop (co-owned with Vesper)
• Turin’s Servant Agency

He resides in multiple locations, rotating between safehouses, mistresses, and his business properties. In public, he is often seen at the Golden Phoenix , the Black Dragon Inn , or the Hanged Man . At the Golden Phoenix, he may be found in the company of Nerof Gasgol , Org Nenshen , or Vesper. If encountered in lesser establishments, he is typically accompanied by 1-4 lower-ranking assassins.

Turin is obsessed with the protection of the Shield Lands from the Bandit Kingdoms and the Horned Society. While he approves of funds being funneled to Furyondy, he yearns for direct action. Solitary assassinations no longer satisfy his thirst for vengeance—he may soon begin assembling a mercenary force to defend his homeland.

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Senior Guild Members

Aside from Turin, four guild members warrant special mention:

Vesparian Lafanel (“Vesper”)

A grey elf standing 5’3” and weighing 100 lbs., Vesper is the guild’s second-in-command. He is striking, with dyed black hair, violet eyes, and an obsession with cleanliness. A teetotaler and perfectionist, he bathes daily, wears fine clothing, and exudes meticulous control over every aspect of his life. Yet, in the field, his demeanor shifts unpredictably—at times paranoid and hyper-vigilant, at others reckless to the point of folly.

Vesper prides himself on the art of assassination, preferring swift, surgical kills. He employs spells like Invisibility and Fly and possesses extensive knowledge of poisons, which he has refined over 433 years. Interestingly, while on assassination missions, he favors deadly toxins, yet when adventuring, he only uses non-lethal poisons, believing that resorting to lethal venom in combat is a sign of weakness.

Vesper manages the guild’s finances and records, keeping a great ledger imbued with a Symbol of Stunning and Explosive Runes. He is cordial with the Guild of Wizardry , whose members tactfully ignore his true profession. However, he harbors a deep hatred of dwarves, a prejudice that Turin frequently chastises—until Vesper reminds him of his own bias against humanoids.

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Caprica Molara

Caprica, age 33, 5’7”, and 138 lbs., appears unremarkable, save for her muscular build. A refugee from the Shield Lands, she found a sympathetic patron in Turin, who saw in her a shared hatred of humanoids. However, Vesper distrusts her, having sensed something deeply wrong about her aura.

He is correct. Caprica is insane—a slow-burning affliction born from witnessing a Symbol of Insanity cast by a Horned Society mage. She suffers from a split personality: her dominant half is cunning and social, but the other is a bloodthirsty maniac. During her violent episodes, she has slaughtered dockworkers, street urchins, and even fellow criminals.

Caprica resides in humble lodgings, disguising herself as an adventurer living off old loot. She frequents low-end taverns with a dangerous entourage, though she is rarely seen with Turin himself.